MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

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Mr. T
Tony Andrews
Kent Island, Maryland
(153 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 03:59PM

Main British Car:
'75 mgb, '74 grille, morspeed bumpers Rover 3.9

authors avatar
Rollbar revisited
Posted by: Mr. T
Date: March 07, 2008 07:38PM

I called Boss Frog (sold by Moss Motors) regarding their scca "approved" roll bar. Evidently stoutly built - weighs 70 lbs! - that seems pretty heavy - how does that weight compare to others?

Are you required do have a rollbar to participate in the BritishV8 track day? That may be the only time I'll be racing around a track - unless I get hooked - which if your a normal guy with a british conversion will probably happen.

Any other "bolt-ins" out there that you'll would recommend?


Thanks, Tony


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

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Re: Rollbar revisited
Posted by: Moderator
Date: March 07, 2008 08:03PM

You were required to have a roll hoop or roof (i.e. GT) to do the track day at Nelson Ledges (British V8 2007).

I was just reading an article (while waiting at the tire store for a nail hole to be patched) about installing an SCCA-legal 8-point cage in a Miata. The whole thing only weighed 100#! It's also a pretty conservative cage, with extra tubes across the door openings. No doubt much of the savings was from using 1.5" diameter seamless tubing. The walls of the tubing are 0.095". What material does Boss Frog use?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2008 10:10PM by Moderator.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

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Re: Rollbar revisited
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: March 08, 2008 05:42PM

Tony,

I think it will be just parade laps, so you shouldn't need a rollbar. Nelson Ledges was a bit different. Two mile road course & I was averaging 90mph.

I seriously doubt the SCCA is going to allow that bar for anything close to real racing.

[www.bossfrog.biz]


Phillip G
Phillip Leonard
Kansas City
(395 posts)

Registered:
02/03/2008 04:12PM

Main British Car:
1992 MG RV8 Rover 3.5

Re: Rollbar revisited
Posted by: Phillip G
Date: March 08, 2008 10:50PM

Tony,

Check our Autopower (via Google) for approved SCCA bolt-in rollbars. They are immediately recognized at tech at SCCA events and will be passed as adequate. They are heavy and they are are probably the Moss supplier, I would not be surprised.

To save weight.....

the 2008 SCCA GCR (General Competition Rules book) under the section, "Production Roll Cages" under a subsection "Material" states that (among other things)

Material:

A. Seamless, or DOM (Drawn Over Mandrel) mild steel tubing (SAE 1010, 1020, 1025) or equivalent or alloy steel tubing (SAE 4130) shall be used for all roll cage structures. Proof of use of alloy steel is the responsibility of the entrant.

B. Minimum tube sizing ,,,of a "Vehicle Weight w/o driver of 1500-2500 lbs" .... of Mild Steel - 1.50 x .095 .... of alloy Steel - 1.375 x .095

Tony,

For all practicall purposes in SCCA regional and national racing - go with an Autopower "Racing" made, bolt-in rollbar and you will have no hassle at tech. To save weight - and you can save a lot of weight - build an "alloy" or "chrome-molly" rollbar or rollcage. If you do, get your local SCCA tech inspector to walk with you through the entire construction project.

I have built almost a dozen SCCA race cars - as a very amateur club racer - and each time I have learned that it is very important to get the local SCCA tech inspectors involved. They love it. It is their passion. They will probably be a big help to you and you will make friends with the people who you will meet with before and after each SCCA race. Engage them and you will have few hassles and a safer race car.

Photos of my latest SCCA race car (and rollcage) project have been posted by the Moderator of our British V8 Newsletter Forum. For the first time I have gone to the "Aircraft quality", light alloy, SAE 4130 tubing - 86 feet of 1.375 x .095 tubing - on my RV8 GT 2 project. The roll cage is so light weight that I am amazed. The rollcage builder, a welding/fabricator specialist here in Kansas City, worked very closely with the KC Region SCCA Chief of Tech Inspection in the construction project. I hope to have fewer hassles at tech when I first present the car at the first race and the first entry in the car's SCCA Log Book. FYI, when you buy an SCCA race car, you don't really buy the car - you buy the car's SCCA Log Book - one and only one Log Book for each car.

You are going to have a lot of fun racing in the SCCA. There is nothing like it.

Phillip G


Mr. T
Tony Andrews
Kent Island, Maryland
(153 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 03:59PM

Main British Car:
'75 mgb, '74 grille, morspeed bumpers Rover 3.9

authors avatar
Re: Rollbar revisited
Posted by: Mr. T
Date: March 12, 2008 07:08PM

"we use all 1.75 x .120 DOM tubing"

Ric Joranlien, Boss Frog
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Mr. T
Tony Andrews
Kent Island, Maryland
(153 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 03:59PM

Main British Car:
'75 mgb, '74 grille, morspeed bumpers Rover 3.9

authors avatar
Re: Rollbar revisited
Posted by: Mr. T
Date: March 12, 2008 07:22PM

Since we'll just be cruisin the track, I'll hold off on rollbar for now. With Phillip's info he's provided and additional intell and pics at BritishV8 2008, should be able to come up with something for a fairly lightweight rollbar.

Couple more Boss Frog rollbar photos:
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